Tips for Healthy Feet – Get to the bottom of any foot problems by using a mirror or asking for help. Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any other change to the skin or nails. Use a mirror if you can’t see the bottom of your feet, or ask a family member to help.
Wash your feet every day in warm (not hot) water. Don’t soak your feet. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom—but not between your toes, which could lead to infection. Never go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers, even inside, to avoid injury. Check that there aren’t any pebbles or other objects inside your shoes and that the lining is smooth.
Wear shoes that fit well, For the best fit, try on new shoes at the end of the day when your feet tend to be largest. Break in your new shoes slowly—wear them for an hour or two a day at first until they’re completely comfortable. Always wear socks with your shoes.
Trim your toenails straight across and gently smooth any sharp edges with a nail file. Have your foot doctor (podiatrist) trim your toenails if you can’t see or reach your feet. Don’t remove corns or calluses yourself, and especially don’t use over-the-counter products to remove them—they could burn your skin.
Get your feet checked at every health care visit, Also, visit your foot doctor every year (more often if you have nerve damage) for a complete exam, which will include checking for feeling and blood flow in your feet. Keep the blood flowing. Put your feet up when you’re sitting, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times throughout the day.
Why is foot care important for diabetics?
Diabetic foot care is essential as diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection.
Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result, you could develop a blister or a sore. This could lead to an infection or a nonhealing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation. To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot or leg, follow these guidelines.
Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or nail problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of your feet. Call your doctor if you notice anything. Bathe feet in lukewarm, never hot, water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily.
- Use only lukewarm water—the temperature you would use on a newborn baby.
- Be gentle when bathing your feet.
- Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge.
- Dry by blotting or patting and carefully dry between the toes.
- Moisturize your feet but not between your toes.
- Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking.
But don’t moisturize between the toes—that could encourage a fungal infection. Cut nails carefully. Cut them straight across and file the edges. Don’t cut nails too short, as this could lead to ingrown toenails. If you have concerns about your nails, consult your doctor.
- Never treat corns or calluses yourself.
- No “bathroom surgery” or medicated pads.
- Visit your doctor for appropriate treatment.
- Wear clean, dry socks.
- Change them daily.
- Consider socks made specifically for patients living with diabetes.
- These socks have extra cushioning, do not have elastic tops, are higher than the ankle and are made from fibers that wick moisture away from the skin.
Wear socks to bed, If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. Never use a heating pad or a hot water bottle. Shake out your shoes and feel the inside before wearing. Remember, your feet may not be able to feel a pebble or other foreign object, so always inspect your shoes before putting them on.
- Eep your feet warm and dry.
- Don’t let your feet get wet in snow or rain.
- Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
- Consider using an antiperspirant on the soles of your feet.
- This is helpful if you have excessive sweating of the feet.
- Never walk barefoot.
- Not even at home! Always wear shoes or slippers.
- You could step on something and get a scratch or cut.
Take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels under control. Do not smoke. Smoking restricts blood flow in your feet. Get periodic foot exams. Seeing your foot and ankle surgeon on a regular basis can help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.
What is the purpose of foot care?
Why take care of your feet? – Feet are your body’s foundation, so keeping them healthy is vital to your overall health. Years of wear and tear can be hard on your feet. Overuse, shoes that don’t fit properly and even genetics can lead to injuries and disorders of the foot that can greatly impact your mobility.
- Aside from some foot issues becoming incredibly painful, they can also make you more susceptible to accidents.
- You risk falling if foot issues persist.
- Walking awkwardly to avoid that pain sets you off-balance and heightens your risk of hurting yourself further.
- Caring for the skin on your feet is also important.
Your heels are not meant to feel rough and dry. The longer this issue persists, the more likely it is that your feet will begin to crack. Although some cracks are not painful, they still allow harmful bacteria in. If left untreated for a long time, the healing process will also take a while.
What is proper foot care?
Basic Care – What kind of basic care do my feet need? Just as you wouldn’t go a day without brushing your teeth, you shouldn’t you go a day without taking care your feet.
Check them daily for cuts, sores, swelling, and infected toenails.Give them a good cleaning in warm water, but avoid soaking them because that may dry them out.Moisturize them every day with lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly. Don’t put moisturizer between your toes. You want to keep the skin there dry to prevent infection.Avoid wearing tight-fitting shoes. Your shoes shouldn’t hurt your feet.Skip the flip-flops and flats. They don’t provide enough arch support.Rotate your shoes so you’re not wearing the same pair every day.Trim your toenails straight across with a nail clipper. Then use an emery board or nail file to smooth the corners, which will prevent the nail from growing into your skin.
What causes diabetic foot?
How does diabetes cause foot problems? – Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.
- If you can’t feel pain, you may not know when you have a cut,, or ulcer (open sore) on your foot.
- A wound like that could get infected.
- The infection may not heal well because the damaged blood vessels can cause poor blood flow in your feet.
- Having an infection and poor blood flow can lead to,
- That means the muscle, skin, and other tissues start to die.
If you have gangrene or a foot ulcer that does not get better with treatment, you may need an, This is a surgery to cut off your damaged toe, foot, or part of your leg. It may prevent a bad infection from spreading and could save your life. But there’s a lot you can do to prevent a foot wound from becoming a major health problem.
Why is it important to keep feet clean?
Few things crinkle the nose like the smell of stinky feet. Still, the bacteria on feet that make them stink can do worse than cause an unpleasant stench. Foot bacteria can also lead to more serious problems, including fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or fungal nails,
What is the best way to heal feet?
RICE may be needed – “Icing can help in an acute injury,” Dr. Leonard said. “Many times, we will recommend RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) for things such as ankle sprains or foot injuries.” This simple self-care technique helps reduce swelling, ease pain and speed up healing. Follow these steps from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons :
Rest: Stay off the injured foot or ankle as walking may cause further injury. Ice: Apply an ice pack to the injured area using a thin towel between the ice and the skin. Ice for 20 minutes, then wait at least 40 minutes before icing again. Compression: An elastic wrap should be used to control swelling. Elevation: The foot or ankle should be raised slightly above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.
How do you treat diabetic feet naturally?
Aloe vera has a soothing effect on ulcer –
Aloe vera is known for its wonderful healing and rejuvenating effects on the skin. The antibacterial properties of aloe vera play a vital role in speeding up the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Thus, you can use aloe vera gel in natural form the ulcer, it will have cooling and soothing effects. You can even have one cup of aloe vera juice to boost overall health and immunity.
- You can experience pain in your knees, hips and lower back when you have ongoing foot problems.
- Foot issues can also cause imbalance, poor posture, and even problems with organ function.
- According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, approximately 20 percent of the U.S.
- Population has at least one foot problem annually.
- They serve as a valuable resource for information that helps patients manage their own health for long-term wellness.
- Personal foot care nurses have the experience and training to provide the most advanced techniques in foot care.
- They serve as a convenient solution for your, which allows patients to receive the best care in a comfortable and familiar setting.
Can diabetes feet be cured?
Diabetic neuropathy – Unfortunately, there’s no cure for diabetic neuropathy. But you can take steps to slow the progression of this disease. Your doctor will likely recommend pain medication to help alleviate nerve pain. For mild nerve pain, you can take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
What are the benefits of healthy feet?
Good foot health is essential for an active life. With 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons, your feet are incredibly complex. And they serve as the foundation for your entire body in terms of support, balance, posture, and overall well-being.
April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and it’s a great time for an annual foot check-up with Martin Foot and Ankle!
What are the three main functions of the feet?
Functions of Foot –
The main function of the feet is to enable locomotion. It allows movement and several physical functions. It also bears the weight of the body. It balances the entire body weight at different angles and positions. The structure of foot is designed to be able to absorb the shock while walking. Feet also help an animal stand upright and perform various physical activities. Along with helping in walking, climbing or jumping, it can also help in grasping or manipulation.
What is a purpose of giving nail and foot care?
Nail care, the maintenance of the fingernails and toenails, is important for health as well as cosmetic reasons. Good nail care can prevent fungus infections of the nail, painful ingrown fingernails and toenails, and infections of the skin in the hands and feet.
Nail care is especially important for those with diabetes, as infections of the feet in particular are dangerous. To care for your nails, keep them short and trimmed (in the shape of the fingertip for fingernails; straight across for toenails); keep your hands and feet and their nails clean (change your socks daily); and wear pool shoes, flip-flops, or other protective wear when in places like public pools or gym showers where you could get a fungal infection.
Don’t bite nails or pick at them or the cuticles. Also avoid tight shoes and artificial nails. Diabetic patients are often recommended to go to a podiatrist to care for and check their feet and toenails.
Why foot care is important in nursing?
What Is A Personal Foot Care Nurse? Personal health care providers offer a wide range of services that address various health conditions. Problems with the feet are common issues that require specialized treatment and care. 
Issues such as diabetes and arthritis create health concerns related to the function and comfort of the feet. A personal foot care nurse is specially trained to provide the services you or a loved one needs for long-term health and wellbeing. Foot Health Problems related to the feet are typically seen in patients suffering from diabetes.
Left untreated, these issues lead to more severe complications due to nerve damage and a reduction in blood flow to the extremities. The sense of feeling can be lost, and when a patient’s foot is injured it may not be recognized immediately. If diabetes is present, an injury heals more slowly and can become prone to infection.
Proper foot health care ensures that any injuries, cuts, or blisters are quickly addressed and provides greater comfort to patients. The Role of a Personal Foot Care Nurse A personal foot care nurse completes the daily tasks that allow for the treatment and prevention of foot health issues related to diabetes and other diseases.
The Services Provided by Personal Foot Care Nurses A personal foot care nurse will complete a comprehensive assessment on the patient’s health and current foot condition. They help you identify any existing problems while providing recommendations for future care.
More importantly, your foot care nurse will provide you with the education you need to properly care for your feet. They care for the nails and address any callouses or corns. Ingrown toenails are also treated by your foot care nurse, helping you avoid more serious issues. If there’s a need for more specialized care, your personal foot care nurse can provide referrals to other health care professionals for further treatment.
Foot care nurses assess the condition of your feet on a daily basis while checking for any inflammation, bruising, cuts, or blisters. A personal foot care nurse provides valuable services that benefit those who have foot conditions related to diabetes and other illnesses.